Players refuse to play demanding immediate resignation of director

Cricket action came to a standstill in Bangladesh on Thursday as a domestic dispute spiraled into a full-blown crisis. Players officially launched a BPL boycott, refusing to take the field for scheduled matches. The standoff resulted in an empty venue for the game between Naokhali Express and Chattogram Royals, with neither side appearing for the toss.

At the heart of this rebellion is a demand for the resignation of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Najmul Islam. Tensions flared after Islam made derogatory comments regarding the players' worthiness of remuneration. He argued that the cricketers did not deserve payment because they had failed to win any ICC events, a statement made while discussing the country's refusal to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup due to security concerns.

Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) President Mohammad Mithun addressed the media, stating that the athletes would stand firm. Despite the BCB promising disciplinary action against Islam, the players insist on continuing the BPL boycott until the director is removed.

Damage control efforts have begun at the administrative level. In an official press release, the BCB expressed regret over the "objectionable comments" and confirmed that a show-cause notice has been served to the director. Najmul Islam has been instructed to explain his actions within 48 hours. The Board emphasized that players are the "lifeblood" of the tournament and urged them to return to the field to save the BPL 2026 season.

This internal conflict is layered on top of external diplomatic stress. Bangladesh has refused to tour India for the World Cup, citing security issues following the sudden exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. Adding fuel to the fire, Najmul had previously labeled former captain Tamim Iqbal an "agent of India" for suggesting a calmer approach to the India standoff.

While the BCB negotiates with the ICC regarding venue shifts, the immediate future of the domestic league remains uncertain as players refuse to budge.